High current filter



Oct. 10, 1933. E. e. GAGE HIGH CURRENT FILTER Original Filed April 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWARD G GAGE BY fi MrvM/ ATTORNEY Oct. 10, 1933. GAGE 1,930,165

HIGH CURRENT FILTER Original Filed April 2, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EDWARD a. GAGE ATTORNEY voltage. It relates, to "that type of apparatus :known' as current filters,'such apparatus being Patented Oct. '10; 1933 i a HIGH-CURRENT FILTER j Edward G. Gage, Brooklyn, -N.. n; assignor to Radio Corporation Delaware v V America, a corporation of foriginalapl lication"April 2, .1923, Serial m.

Divided and this application May 21, 1931. Serial No.]538,899

12 Qlaims. (c1. irs -ssa) f lfhis applicationis a division. of my 'copending applicationSerial No. 629,292 filed .April 2, 1923, entitled .High current filter. H i

1 -This invention relates to means for providing a direct current, free from variations, such current being derived from a source of variable adapted to suppress; or. filter out variations" of i the current so that'substantiallypure direct cur-"u rent may be delivered to desiredapna'ratus. In the electrontubesof the audion type-which are employed in radio apparatus, thev heated-clef ment must be energized by a current substantially free from variations otherwise itwill-be unfitted for the desiredpurpose, and the more perfectly freethe current-is from variations the more. satisfactory is the operationl-of the tube.- V The expense. of; maintaining batteries-to supply current for theheated element ofthe elctron tube, as well as the necessity for; frequently,

,renewing or recharging batteries :renders;,them I 'line 3 -3 of Fig. 2; I

very objectionable'so that it is of great advantage tobe able to supply this current fromzthe usual electro-dynamic sources; and it desirable in many instances 1 that such ,electro-dynarnic sources be of alternating current for thereasons that such current may be the only current avail- T able in certain -locatio'ns and alsoit lends itself readily to simple voltage transformation. H

Means, somewhat similar to that here pro- -posed,has heretofore been employed for rectifying and filtering alternating current for the pur-' pose of supplying substantially invariable cur rent, but such apparatus has involved the use of condensers and sohas been limited to thesupplyingof extremelyksmall currents, the size of condensers necessary to supply large-currents being absolutely prohibitive both asto expense and cumbersomeness. 2 a

The main object-of the present-invention is toiprovide an; apparatus of.; the character referred'to. butwhichv shall be capable. of supplyiing'relatively large'currents and avoidthe objections as indicated, the present invention providing for the .useof electro-chemically operating current storing means, the electrical energy supplied on charging being transformed by reason of chemical action into a chemical form of energy, which energ'yis delivered, on discharge as electrical energy produced by chemical changes,

I such as storage, batteries, in conjunction with impedances. a Y V 1 A further object of the invention is to provide such an arrangement deriving it -energyfrom of apparatus; (I t ;Fig. 5 ,isa top plan .view of the apparatusrof '4 with the cover removed; and;

(alternating current source through a rectifier A38 wi11...be

hereinafter more particularly referredto. I u I v V A-furth'er objectof the inventionis to provide apparatus embodying jfeatures as referred to I aboveQwhich shallbe incompact formso as to ,be readilyhandled as a unit and transported if desired. Y

A further I .an improvedfform of storag e battery.

' A further objectof the invention is to eliminate objectionable variations of current due to a .rec-

v YOther' andancillaryobjects of the' i'nvention livill appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings which illus- ..tratethe invention:

Fig; 1 is a diagram showing the electrical connectioris of the apparatus;

.Fig. 2 is a vertical xlal storage battery;

3 is a section on an enlarged scaleon'the section of a cell of Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 prises a step-down transformer l having its primary. connected to'a suitable source of alter nating current and' so woundandconstructed that the secondary'voltagej (in'this case 50 volts) will be suitable for-the purposes desired. One terminal of the transformer is connected through .asuitable rectifier 2 which may be of the gasv or :vaportypefThat'form of gaseous rectifier knowncommercially as a Tungar is suitable, 1 and asis well known; such a device provides an asymetric current, path. The other terminal of the transformer secondaryis connected, with bject of the invention is to provide 0111s. 5; I d Referring to the drawings the apparatus cornu charging current will be supplied through the v "rectifier whenever the voltage exceeds that} of 'the battery. On the other'hand, thebattery.

can never discharge back therethrough because it tends to send current in, theopposite direction from that which'will be permltted to pass by the rect fier.

One terminal of the battery 3 is connected through the impedance coil 4 with one terminal of the three cell battery 5, the other terminals of the batteries 3 and 5 being connected together by a conductor 6. The battery 5 :isconnected through the impedance coil7 with, one terminal of the filament 8 of an electron tube of the audion type which may act as a detector in wireless receiving sets or any other applications wherein such a tube is of use. The other terminal of the filament 8 is connected through'avariable resistance 9 with the other terminal of the battery 5. audion type having the usual grid 10 and plate 11. The circuit of the filament may be opened by moving the movable contact ofjthe resistance 9 off of the resistance contacts.

The coil 4 has such self-induction as to practically bar the passage of all variable current such as the pulsating direct current through the rectifier, but 'these pulsation s operate to charge the battery'3 andthe even direct current supplied from this battery readily passes through the coil 4. "Itjwill thus beiseen that the circuit including the inductance coil ,4 is of high reactance 'with relation to the circuit through the "transformer secondaryrecti'fier'and batteryfl which is 'but it is not possible'toIabsolutelybar all variable current by meansnftheco'il 'although this'condition may be approached as nearly as desired by increasing the selfinduction of the coil. Any slight" variations 'areagain barred by means of .a second impedance en "7 and-the battery '5 equalizes these variations bycharging and discharging in a similar manner -to the battery 3 so that the voltage, as delivered tothe filament of the audion tube, is so'nearly constant as to involve no perceptible variation. If a still tfurther refinement were desired, other batteries and impedance coils might be added to the system in Succession in the same manner as the batteries and impedance coils'shown. I

In addition tothe above propertyof filtering out the variable current the impedances have the ,efiec't of pr'eventing"the possibility of burning-out thetube filament in case the batteries should become disconnected or inoperative. The-impedances 'theref ore serve the double purpose of protecting the tube filament from the line voltage which might beapplied to it and also filter out substantially all variable current which might otherwise be applied to the filament.

It is desirable that the batt'ei'yfl'shallnever be exhausted or drained as sufiicient current can- .not' besupplied through the rectifier of appropriate sizeto'c'ompensate for this drain, and a variation or'ripple in voltage is caused which causes ahumming sound in the'tube. To prevent any-chance of this draining of the cells an excess of rectified current is supplied to the cells so that their voltage may not substantially vary. This causesgassing and the escape of the hydrogen gas in quantities is prevented as will be hereinafter referred to as will also the structure o'iithecll. e H r I IheJmpedance (of the coil 7 and resistance 9 is so'a'diusted that an amount of current not g'iea'terth'an a fraction of that supplied to the battery 3 may fiow in the filament circuit. The

The electron tube shown is of the cells 3 are thus never drained as above referred to. The battery cells may be made very small as it is only necessary that they shall be able to store the energy for a very short time and preferably the resistance of the'battery 3 should be :less than that of the load circuit.

It has been found that variations in the current occur due to the gaseous rectifier and that these noises are removed by shunting the rectifier by a condenser 12.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 the cell there shown and which is suitable for use in the batteries of the system explained above,

comprises a. casing 13 of glass or other suitable insulating material which may have a screw cover "14 of hard rubber in which are mounted the terbeing of thePlant type: "Thesheets-of leadare rolled together as shown particularly in Fig. 3 and separated'by a suitable insulating material '21 through which theelectrolyte may pass'suc'h as perforated celluloid-and the :usual electrolyte '23 such as a sulphuric acid solution envelopes the plates. Y i

It will -be-seen that above the plates and their electrolyte -is a large space 22 in "the *container.

A =1eaden vent tube 24 extends from the cover-of the container to a pointin proximity to the-surface of the electrolyte. In order to prevent spilb ing of-the electrolyte .sin :case the cell should be turned up-side-down, the tube 24 should be :at

least as long as the electrolyte isqdeep. Thespace plates and electrolyte and the vent hole 25:in

the tube is -extremely small, about one-sixtyfourth of' an inch in diameter. At leastonehalf of the interior of the container :is taken up by thesp'ace referred to. I

' In the-operation of this ceII'aIpecuIiar .phenomenon has been observed in that while thecells are overcharged and violent gassingtakes place in the cells, there is no discharge 0f zgas or 'at least no appreciable discharge .of .gas from the vent. 'Owing to the smallnessofthe yentithere is an accumulationof pressure withinithecom tainer due to the evolution of 'the gasessandthen there is an apparent condensation within this space,and inasmuch as tests by smell and combustion fail 'to indicate the escape of the usual 1 hydrogen gas, I have come =to the conclusion that in view of the appearance of condensation and 'failure of hydrogen -to be emitted Ithrough "the vent, the peculiar space and :pressure conditions within the cell lead to the re-absorption by the electrolyte of the gasesevolvedor that any-gas no-bursting of the cell notwithstanding that ithey have been operatedover long-periods of time.

The apparatus referred to is arranged in -a compact unit WhiCh may be carried'about and 'connectedwith the usual 'lamp socket-on'a lightmentofthe audion tube. In order that there ing circuit'at'any points desired, the whole form Sing a handy portable .outfit forrenergizing a receiving set from the usual lighting or other ldesired-circuit;v

Within thelcase are thestorage battery cells '28 V 'which may be constructed as" described -iri coni. nection with Figs. 2 and 3 and which constitute Thus; referring to :4, 5 and .6,v the unit comprises. a woodenicase having a1cove'r126 to which issecured ahandle 2'7.for carryingflit. about.

the two-batteries and these-batteries being suitably enclosed in compartments and packed 'so as toaavoid breakage." Upon'the' bottom of i the casing-is mounted a transformer "1 to the primary of which. 1 are connected. the conductors 29 which may be of theusuallamp cord con.-.

nected inthe usual 110 volt alternating current lighting socketbya suitabl'eandxwell known plug. Also 'mountedr upon thebottom 'ofthe casing is" theTungar rectifier 2, .the condenser 12. connected acrosswitsr terminals being mounted upon "the side of the partitionBO forthe: battery compartments. --Also mounted uponthe bottom of the casing are the impedancefcoils 4 and '7, the conductors 3 1 leading to the rheostat and filamay be no disturbing induction'between them, the axes of the coils 4; and? and the coils-of the transformer are at right angles to each other.

. In order to protect the outfit a fuse plug 32 mounted in the cover of the casing may be connected in the primary circuit of the transformer.

It will'now be seen thatthe; device; as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is compact andreadily portable and that in order to energize the filament of an electron tube,'it is only-necessary to insert the plug on the conductors 29in the ordinary alternating current lighting lamp socketand connect the conductors 31 in any suitable way with-the filament of the tube.

While the invention has been illustrated in what is considered its best applications it may have other embodiments without departing from 1 its spirit and is not therefore limited to the"? structures shown in the drawings.

I claim:

l. A current rectifying and filtering system comprising a source of alternating, current, a

tube output and adapted-to allow a flow of rectified current therein, a reactor connected in series in said negative lead and two electrolytic storage devices connected across said leads inparallel sides of said reactor. i

2. A current rectifyingsystem comprising line conductors for commercial alternating current, a transformer havingits primary connected to said and connected to the negative lead'at opposite 7 line conductors, a rectifying tube of the heated cathode type having its anode-cathode circuit connected so as to be inseries with the secondary of said transformer, a negative. lead for rectified current connected to the rectifieranode, a step "down transformer arrangement providing a cathode heaiingcircuit, a; condenser shunted directly across said rectifier, a positive lead for rectified current connected; to the cathode of the rectifiertube, a reactor connected in series in thenegative leadand tw'o electrolytic storage'devices connected inparallel acros'ssaid leads and being connected'respectively at oppositejsldesof F the reactor 'indthe negative lead.

'' 3. A current rectifying system comprisinga source of alternating current, a rectifying device connectedi to said source," a condenser. shunted acrossysaid rectifyingdevice; a lead for; direct rectified current connectedtoi said device, a 'return lead .for the direct rectified current; a re- 1 actoreonnected in series in the negativeilead and two electrolytic'storage devices connected in parallel across said leads and being respectively connected/co the negative lead at op'positesides .of the reactor.' I 1% 4. A current rectifying system comprising a source of alternating ',Cl.l11e1lt,;8, rectifying device connected to said source, a capacity shunted aeross. said rectifying device, a positive lead for direct rectifiedcurrent.connectedto said device, :a negative .retur'n lead for the directrectified current, areactor connected in'series inithe negative lead; :a'ndtwo electrolytic condensers con- ,nected in parallel across said leads and being respectively connected to the negative lead at I opposite sides of the reactor.

5.;Acurrent rectifying system comprising line conductors for commercial alternating current, a

transformer having its primary winding conconnected to the, secondary, of said transformer, a condenser shunted across said rectifying device, a positive lead for direct rectified current connected to said device, a negative lead'for direct rectified current connected to said secondary, a reactor connected in series in the negative lead, and two electrolytic storage devices connected in parallel across said leads and being respectively connected to the negative lead. at opposite sides of the reactor. 1 I

6. A ,system' for modifying electric currents comprising a source of pulsating direct current, a

I condenser shunted directly across said source, positive andnegative leads connected from saidsource, a reactor connected in series in the negative lead, and two electrolytic condensers connected in parallel across said leads and being respectively connected to the negative lead at opposite sides of the reactor.

nected to-the line conductors, a rectifying device.

'7. A current rectifying and filtering system comprisinga source of alternating current, a rec tifying tube having an anode and a cathode, trans former coupling means between the source and the rectifier tube and forming an energizing circuit for the cathode and for the anode-cathode circuit of the tube whereby the alternating cure rent energy is changed into fluctuating'direct current energy, a positive 'lead and a negative leadassociated with the anode-cathode circuit of the rectifiertube and adapted to, allow a flow of rectified current therethrough, a reactor con nectedin series in saidnegative lead,and two.

electrolyticstorage devices connected across said leads in parallel and connected to the negative lead at oppositesides of thereactor.

8. Acurrent rectifying system comprising line conductors for commercial alternating current, a transformer having its primary connected to said line: conductors, a rectifying tube of the I heated cathode type having its anode-cathode circuit connected in series with the secondary ofathe transformer, a negative lead for rectified current connected to the rectifier anode, astep-down meeting circuit, a positive lead for rectified current muxmected to the filament "circuit, a reactor -conmwtedymisemtes in the megative lead, and two electrolytic condensers connected vin :paralii across said leadszmd being connected respectively attunposite sides of the reactor in the negative ilead. l v 1 I *8. A current rectifying system comprising a sour'ce oi alternating current, a rectifying device connected to said-source, a lead for direct rectifled current connected to said device, a return "leadrfor the direct rectified current, a reactor connected inseries in the negative lead, and two electrolytic 'storage'devices connected in parallel across said leads and being respectively connected to the negative lead at opposite sides of the re- '10. A current rectifying system comprising a som'ce'ota'ltemating current, a rectifying device connected to =said source, a positive *lead fordirect rectified current connected 'to'said device, a negative return lead for the direct rectifiedcurrent, a reactor connected in series in the negative lead,

and tworeie'ctrolytic condensersiconnected'in partransformer arrangement providing 'a "cathode allel across'said leads and being respectively connected to the negative lead at'opposite sides 01 the reactor. i

11. A current rectifying system comprising line conductors for commercial alternating cm're'n't, a

transformer having its primary winding connested to the line conductors, a rectifying device connectedto the secondary of said transformer, a positive lead for direct rectified-current connected to said device,"a negative lead for direct rectified current connected to said secondary, a reactor connected inseries in the negativeiead, and two electrolytic condensers connected in parallel across said leads'and bein'grespectively connected to the negative lead at opposite sides of thereactor.

12; A system 'ior modifying electric currents comprising a 'sourceoi direct cm'renthaving-posr tive and negative leads, a reactor connected 'in series in the negative lead, and two electrolytic "condensers-connected in parallel 'across said leads and being respectively connected to the negative lead at opposite sides of the reactor.

EDWARD G. G'AGE. 

